Free TV is now a critical service - it's time to unburden it

But the commercial networks have long been struggling under the burden of regulations crafted in the previous century which make it increasingly difficult and costly to fulfil this critical role. [...] It also reflects the trust which audiences have in commercial television news, and the fact that it is free and universally available. [...] With subscription services Netflix, Amazon and Apple limiting the streaming quality of their content to reduce the strain on communications networks, and a telecommunications CEO asking Australians to moderate their internet usage to bolster the performance of the NBN, free TV’s dedicated broadcast network is delivering a reliable 24/7 service. [...] For many years now, the free TV broadcasters have been asking the government to work with us to develop a new regulatory framework suitable for a world where broadcasters must compete with online content providers and digital platforms. [...] But it is equally important that whenever the situation does begin to improve, the regulatory context provides certainty for the future.